Tuesday, May 30, 2017

It's hard to believe that Summer is already here. . .but, I know it's true because John and I found ourselves venturing up to Missouri and the 100 Mile Yard Sale this past weekend. . .which makes it official for us. . .To be honest, we only covered about 35 miles of it. . .That took us all day. . .We returned home late that evening with smiles on our faces. . .very tired faces. . .

A few of my finds ended up on our porch table for the Memorial Day cookout. . .I'm a glutton for advertising tins, especially when I see red and white. . .'Back in the day' families were larger and groceries were often bought in quantities. . .Lard was used for frying. . .and greasing wheels. . .Livers were eaten for iron. . .plus, they were cheap. . .and every lumber yard gave out free tool aprons with the purchase of their lumber. . .Nowadays we don't use lard. . .livers are pretty much out. . .and carpentry is becoming a long, lost art. . .What to do with the cast-offs? . .Put them in a yard sale and the Farmer's Daughter will buy them!!!!!!. . .(wink). . .

Actually, the advertising tins are being used in a lot of decor these
days. . .I carried the advertising theme one step further, adding
vintage tool aprons to the old farm chairs . .and the 48 Star Flag to
tie it all together. . .With a few items, I have the making for a 4th of
July table, too. . .Looks very Patriotic without being over the top. . .

Obviously unrelated items working together well.

The secret is to follow a color scheme. . .and to think outside the box. . .

Works every time. . .

With the warm summer days ahead, I want to soak up as much outdoors as I can. . .which is a good thing. . .We have had tornadoes, straight line winds, torrential rain, and hail over and over again for the last few months. . . Plenty of clean-up to do. . .

And then. . .there's always our 'Little Chapel in the Field'. . .which is coming along just fine. . .Yesterday it received it's first coat of paint. . .

We do have our work cut out for us, don't we? . .but we also enjoy it. . .There's something about living on a farm that brings out the best in us. . .

Thursday, May 18, 2017

I have had a bike and a tricycle for several years. . .intending to paint them for our backdoor garden. . .I never got around to it. . .When I ran across them this year, I decided to just blindly start with the paint and let inspiration take over. . .I was as surprised as anyone when it led me to a fairly 'PLAIN AND SIMPLE' result. . .a vintage peach box. . .a wreath of barbed wire. . .a couple of Rosemary plants. . .a little hay. . .and my favorite Simplify sign. . .

Even more surprised to realize I had the makings of a unique sundial. . .

I bought the sundial years ago and have used it in the past as a bucket top. . .It's a nice change. . . Speaking of which. . .remember theLITTLE CHAPEL GARDEN HOUSEin Missouri that I shared with your several years ago?

With that garden house as inspiration, we started another project. . .our own LITTLE CHAPEL IN THE FIELD. . .Damage from the wind/tornado/storms a few weeks ago on our own smaller storage building included the need to replace the porch. . .Instead of rebuilding as it was. . .we decided it was a good opportunity to create a farm style chapel. . .

STORAGE BUILDING BEFORE

We have worked on it a little at a time, sneaking in a few moments here and there. . .Still have more to do-obviously-but it's beginning to take shape. . .When finished, we'll paint the 'chapel' and the ironwork white and add a little landscaping--farm style. . .For a while, it will continue to serve us for storage but in the future, we plan to add the pews, piano, podium, and songbooks from a 1920s local church that was torn down a few years ago.

If you would like to see the progress of the LITTLE CHAPEL IN THE FIELD, I try to up-date at Facebook often. . .Add us to your LIKES or FAVORITES at: DUNCAN FARMSTEAD FACEBOOK PAGE . . .and follow along. . .

Monday, May 8, 2017

From COWGIRL WESTERN to a RUSTIC FARMHOUSE STYLE for now to BLACK TIE AND BLUE JEANS coming later. . .poor John says he can't keep up. . .He never knows when he walks in the door what theme he'll be living in.

Personally, I don't see it as a bad thing. . .Keeps him guessing. . .as well as others. . .Adds a little spice to our FARM LIFE. . .

This past weekend, I cleared out everything from our breezeway porch. . .What a job, too! . .But once it was all out, I could visualize better the elements I wanted to keep. . .and those I needed to 'go junkin' for. . .Some times a person just has to start from the beginning. . .in order to see new possibilities. . .In doing so, I feel we acquired a whole NEW ROOM in the house. . .Before. . .the room was full of cast-offs and plants and extra wicker pieces too fragile to sit on. . . .It was time to change it up--and gain another usable room. . .It also gave me a chance to go JUNKIN' at a different place. . .right here at OUR FARM. . .Let's face it. . .I have one of just about everything. . .if I can only find it.

I tried to look at things with a new attitude. . .Items I could paint or fix for a coordinated room. . .not a flea market cast-off, don't-know-where-else-to-put-it room. . .These made the cut. . .

The CUPBOARDS will need a new coat of paint. . .as will the CHAIRS. . .I think I'll keep the VAULTED CEILING natural. . .as I will the COTTON BASKET. . .Need facings on the doors and windows, but maybe a fresh coat of paint on the walls first? . .All changes that will have to wait a week or two. . .or more. . .In the meantime, I wanted to enjoy this new-found space. . .for having my morning coffee. . .and maybe some lunches. . .I needed it to work right now. . .Hmmmmm. . .I stood back and thought. . .'Let's go with a RUSTIC, SIMPLE STYLE. . .a little SHAKER and a little PRIM and a little PLAIN OLE FARMHOUSE.' . . .I knew what I needed to complete the look. . .that library TABLE in our store museum from my old high school. . .It would make a perfect FARM TABLE. . .that I can also paint later. . .It's been well-used and loved over the years. . .No one ever noticed it in the store building (including us) because it was heaped and covered up with way too much 'stuff.'

It's seen some rough times. . .but that only adds to its PATINA and PERSONALITY. . .Notice the very worn lower crossbar. . .from hundreds of students propping their feet on it daily. . .including myself. . .Eventually, I'll shabby paint the bottom and refinish the top. . .There are many water rings I'd like to remove. . .That will come later. . .

While talking John into helping me move the table, I did a little more 'FARM JUNKIN' but limited myself to only a few accessories. . .including a 48 STAR FLAG that has seen better days but I cannot part with it. . .I was reminded that Memorial Day is soon. . .I thought it would be appropriate. . .

This will work out well until we can get to the task of painting and trimming. . .I like the RUSTIC FARM LOOK. . .What I like the most is less--FAR LESS--clutter and only a few loved pieces that will work even better together once I get out the paint bucket. . .Evidence that my goal to SIMPLIFY is finally on it's way throughout the house. . .FINALLY. . .and I'm LOVING it.